DUMFRIES, Va. (AP) — Greg Barlow did not want his fourth-grade son to take the Standards of Learning math test, but he did not know what would happen if he refused. Would his son get a failing grade? Would it go on his permanent record?

Barlow researched state and local codes and finally decided to try it. He sent an email to his son’s principal and teacher at his Prince William elementary school, informing them that he planned to keep his son home on test day.